⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears;^(A)
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.^(B)

⁹ They will come with weeping;^(A)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead^(B) them beside streams of water^(C)
    on a level^(D) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,^(E)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,^(A)
for your work will be rewarded,^(B)”
declares the Lord.
    “They will return^(C) from the land of the enemy.

² Bitterly she weeps^(A) at night,
    tears are on her cheeks.
Among all her lovers^(B)
    there is no one to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed^(C) her;
    they have become her enemies.^(D)